South Africa coach Ottis Gibson believes the world's best Test bowler Kagiso Rabada has learnt from his brush with suspension and expects more mature on-field behaviour in the third Test against Australia starting in Cape Town on Thursday.
Suresh Raina's return could not have been better-timed as Gujarat Lions, jolted by the tournament's biggest ever defeat, seek to revive their campaign when they face off with Kolkata Knight Riders.
Fiery paceman Andre Nel returns to the squad as South Africa announced a battery of fast bowlers for their tour of England on Friday. The 30-year-old, who has played 34 tests, is the only addition to the squad that toured India in March and April, from which he was controversially omitted. Nel joins a six-man pace attack that includes the in-form Dale Steyn, the experienced Makhaya Ntini, the up-and-coming Morne Morkel, as well as Monde Zondeki.
A supremely confident Delhi Daredevils return to their den and have a struggling and injury-ravaged Rising Pune Supergiants in their firing line up next in the Indian Premier League, in New Delhi, on Thursday.
The 28-year-old Starc finished with a match haul of nine for 109, enabling him to overtake South Africa's new-ball bowlers Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander among others, eclipsing his previous best sixth position that he enjoyed in December 2016.
The veteran left-hander played a vital knock of 87 as India ended day two of the third Test against South Africa on 288 for nine, taking a first innings lead of 23 runs. VVS Laxman (50) was the major contributors in the Indian innings while Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel were the most successful South African bowlers with figures of three for 60 and three for 57 respectively.
South Africa pacer Dale Steyn declared on Monday that he is looking torment the Indian batsmen in the upcoming series with his brand of pace and swing bowling.
The 22-yard strip at the Feroz Shah Kotla will be the cynosure of all eyes as a buoyant India seeks their biggest series triumph against South Africa when they square off in the final Test of the four-match rubber in Delhi on Thursday.
A look at the Kolkata Knight Riders's IPL record over the years.
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.
Dale Steyn became the second South African bowler to claim 400 Test wickets.
Bangladesh reduced South Africa to 76 for four after being bowled out for 192 on the opening day of the first Test.
Irfan Pathan's recent performances on the ongoing tour of Australia didn't go unnoticed as the Indian all-rounder was purchased for a whopping US $9,25,000 by Preity Zinta's Mohali Franchise in round six of the Indian Premier League players' auction on Wednesday. The left-arm seamer, who base price was US $2,00,000, was far ahead of South Africa's Albie Morkel, who was snapped up by Chennai for US $6,75,000.
South Africa beat West Indies by 86 runs in the second one-day international on Friday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
A humdinger on cards as South Africa chase first series win in India
Bangladesh continued their giant-killing exploits with a nine-wicket victory over South Africa in Wednesday's rain-hit final one-day international to clinch the three-match series 2-1.
South Africa beat Pakistan by 14 runs in the fifth and final ODI to clinch the five-match series 3-2.
Chris Gayle hammered the Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers into submission with a breathtaking 96 that guided Royal Challengers Bangalore to a three-wicket victory in an Indian Premier League encounter at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday.
South Africa beat New Zealand by six wickets to keep themselves in the hunt for a berth in semis of the Twenty20 World Cup.
Wrestling komodo dragons, ethereal egrets and thirsty squirrels are amongst some of the incredible images captured for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
Chennai Super Kings fell short by ten runs against Rajasthan Royals in Saturday's IPL match.
Zimbabwe were bowled out twice on Wednesday as South Africa swept to an easy victory by an innings and 120 runs as the inaugural four-day Test finished inside two days at St George's Park.
Cricket will venture into new territory when South Africa tackle Zimbabwe in the first official four-day Test match to be played at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth starting on Tuesday.
India rung in two changes, Munaf Patel and Dinesh Kaarthick coming in place of VRV Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni respectively, for the third Test against South Africa.
South Africa named uncapped left-arm spinner Paul Harris in their squad for the remaining two Tests against India.
South Africa have retained the same 15-man squad that saved the series with Pakistan in October for their two home Tests against India later this month.
Shaun Pollock smashed two fours and two sixes in his 36 not out off 25 balls as South Africa beat the West Indies by four wickets.
The countries will pin their hopes of victory on their quicks with seamer friendly wickets on order for the Tests in Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Johannesburg, and the contests set to be dominated by fiery exchanges of fast bowling.
The hosts have suffered a body blow with Jacques Kallis pulling out of the squad because of a back strain.
Kolkata Knight Riders stormed into the final of the Indian Premier League on the back of a convincing 28-run win over Kings XI Punjab, with pacer Umesh Patel hogging the limelight with a fine display of fast bowling.
Having decimated South Africa inside three days on a turning track in Mohali, India will again look to unleash their troika of spinners to spoil A B de Villiers's landmark 100th match when the two sides meet in the second Test, in Bangalore, on Saturday.
South Africa's success in Australia is often put down to their comfort on the hard local tracks, which can be similar to those at home, but they could face some unfamiliar conditions this year.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has named Dean Elgar in the list of its contracted players, in place of the retired Test captain Graeme Smith.
Kolkata Knight Riders rode on a brilliant all-round showing from Australia's Chris Lynn to score a dramatic victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League match, in Sharjah, on Thursday night. After propping the Kolkata innings with a 31-ball 45, the 24-year-old Australian pulled off an acrobatic catch at the deep mid-wicket boundary line to dismiss A B de Villiers in the last over of the match, and RCB, chasing 151 for victory, fell short by two runs.
The Pune outfit is presently languishing at the sixth spot in the eight-team standings with just four points.
With India being outplayed in the Twenty20s, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will face added pressure to perform and lead India from the front against a formidable South African unit in the five-match ODI cricket series starting in Kanpur on Sunday.
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.
Mumbai Indians are all set to open the defense of their title against new outfit Rising Pune Supergiants.
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.
India left out Suresh Raina, S Sreesanth and Jai Prakash Yadav from the 15 while making Gautam Gambhir the supersub.
