India moved into second place in the ICC Test Championship table after beating South Africa in the four-Test series 3-0, in Delhi, on Monday.
A disappointed Michael Clarke arrived home from United Arab Emirates on Wednesday eager to shake off Australia's Test series loss to Pakistan and begin his side's World Cup buildup in a one-day series against South Africa.
"He's so inventive ... he can play a touch game or a power game. Then, he can also keep wickets. I think he's the most valuable cricketer around," reckons former Australian great Adam Gilchrist.
Women's WC matches in Bengaluru face uncertainty, shifting of venue on cards
Images from the World Cup first quarter-final between Sri Lanka and South Africa in Sydney, on Wednesday.
Captain Aaron Mokoena became the first South African to win 100 caps when the World Cup hosts beat Guatemala 5-0 in a friendly on Monday. The Portsmouth defender wore a shirt with the number 100 emblazoned on the back as his side scored five goals in a single game for the first time in more than 250 internationals since returning to world soccer 18 years ago.
The outcome of the last group match between India and New Zealand on Sunday will determine if Australia or South Africa will face Rohit Sharma and Co in Dubai.
South Africa still believe they are the best team at the World Cup despite defeats to India and Pakistan and will be out to prove it in their final pool match against United Arab Emirates, skipper AB de Villiers said on Wednesday.
South Africa reclaimed top spot in the Test rankings after grimly hanging on for a draw in the second and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, on Monday to win the series 1-0.
Assessing Sai Sudharsan's temperament and Nitish Kumar Reddy's utility in home conditions would be topmost on India's checklist when the high-on-confidence hosts take on a floundering West Indies
India overpowered New Zealand by 53 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method to seal their place in the semi-finals of the Women's ODI World Cup.
New Zealand paceman Southee ruled out; Proteas 'keeper De Kock doubtful starter
The paceman had injury problems in the recent ICC Champions Trophy in England, forcing him to miss the semi-final defeat by the hosts, and that has weighed heavily on the minds of the selectors with Test series coming up against Pakistan, India and Australia.
Jemimah Rodrigues played the innings of her life, slamming a century for the ages as India pulled off a record chase to storm into the Women's World Cup final after a five-wicket victory over defending champions Australia in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.
The ICC is ready to sanction four-day Tests for smaller nations in the 2027-29 World Test Championship cycle but India, Australia and England can still play the traditional five-day matches.
As he closes the most revered chapter of his career, here are some of his best Test knocks:
Dean Elgar made the most of being dropped early in his innings to score his seventh Test century and anchor South Africa's 229 for four at the close of play on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand in Dunedin on Wednesday.
'For him, win or defeat never mattered, he always told us to give our best and never worry about the results.'
South African swashbuckler A B de Villiers found a positive for India in what has been a thoroughly disappointing Test campaign in South Africa so far - their 'lively pace attack' which he says, has surprised the hosts.
Australia claimed a three-wicket victory over the West Indies in the fourth Twenty20 international on Saturday
India and other developing nations, on the other hand, want the peace clause until a permanent solution is found on the matter for smooth implementation of the food security programme.
Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur pushed South Africa to the backfoot before the classy AB de Villiers rallied the tourists with a typically aggressive century on the second and last day of the practice game against Board President's XI which ended in a draw, in Mumbai, on Saturday.
Shikhar Dhawan scored a century in his 100th One-Day International but scintillating South Africa claimed a five-wicket Duckworth-Lewis victory in a thrilling rain-curtailed clash at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Saturday.
James Faulkner was the pick of Australia's fast bowlers. He took three wickets as the hosts cruised to a comfortable victory over South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday to level the three-match Twenty20 series.
A round-up of Sunday's action in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy group stage matches.
South African skipper Graeme Smith is all set to become the first cricket player to captain a team in 100 Tests when he will lead the side out against Pakistan on Friday at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg.
The superlative effort of 4-7 in 2.1 overs against the UAE saw Kuldeep Yadav bagging the man-of-the-match award and at the post-match presentation ceremony he got a chance to express his disappointment and question the logic behind his constant omission from the Playing XI.
Ignored Karun Nair hits 2nd ton to take Karnataka to 319/3 against Kerala in the Ranji Trophy.
South Africa begin their three-month tour of England with a one-day international against the hosts at Leeds on Wednesday and team manager Mohammed Moosajee admitted the players are concerned.
Saying the Indian pitches in the recently-concluded series against South Africa was not good advertisement for Test cricket, former Pakistan captain Younis Khan has urged the ICC to ensure uniformity of tracks in the longest format across the world.
Scary for opponents to know that we did not have a perfect match, but still winning: Rodrigues
Spain secured their place at the 2026 World Cup after a nervy 2-2 draw with Turkey in Seville on Tuesday.
Six uncapped players named in South Africa ODI squad
England will play four Tests, five One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20 matches on a 10-week tour of South Africa during the 2015/16 summer season.
South Africa's Kapp on compassionate leave after wife van Niekerk dropped from WC squad
Kagiso Rabada said South Africa are gunning for a whitewash of India, having trampled the visitors in the first two matches.
Half-centuries from Quinton de Kock and J P Duminy hit half-centuries before South Africa survived a late assault from Mahendra Singh Dhoni to edge past favourites India by four runs in the ICC World T20 warm-up match at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, on Saturday.
New Zealand entered their maiden ICC World Cup final, beating South Africa by five wickets in a thrilling rain-reduced World Cup semi-final at Eden spoPark in Auckland on Tuesday. Set 298 to win from 43 overs, the Kiwis, led by fine knocks from captain Brendon McCullum (59 off 26 balls) and Grant Elliott (84 off 73) got across the finish line with one ball to spare. Elliott hit the winning run with a six over long-on off the bowling of Dale Steyn.
Making clear India's stand, team manager Sunil Subramanian on Friday said the Wanderers wicket was prepared by South Africa and not by them so the hosts must be prepared to resume the game.
Set a stiff target of 458 for victory, the hosts rode on centuries from Faf du Plessis (134) and AB de Villiers (103) but failed to pull off a sensational victory, falling short by a narrow margin of eight runs.
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