Dale Steyn is all set to go out all guns blazing in Melbourne, when South Africa takes on India in World Cup Pool B match.
Plucked from obscurity when called up by selectors on Christmas Eve, the 32-year-old Victoria paceman finished with outrageous innings figures of 6-7 in four overs, sending his home crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground into delirium.
Rohit Sharma's sizzling century went in vain as Australia survived a few anxious moments before pulling off a tense four-wicket win over India in a cricket tri-series ODI match in Melbourne.
The Indian women's cricket team produced another clinical performance to crush Australia by 10 wickets in a rain-affected T20 International match and clinch the three-match series 2-0, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, on Friday.
New Zealand coach confirmed his team would rest on Friday with temperatures expected to reach 45 degrees Celsius
'It's a tough gig, opening in Test cricket, but we're really confident Marcus has got what it takes to be a successful Australian opening batsman.'
Australian coach and selector Darren Lehmann believes that his team displayed a shoddy fielding performance on account of lack of confidence during the Melbourne Test against India despite having a good practice session.
At the end of it all, Dravid's one-year report card doesn't paint a rosy picture and a meticulous planner like him will sit back and think hard about the tough calls he might need to take before the ODI World Cup in a year's time.
Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar defended Mahendra Singh Dhoni for his "unrest" comment that got the media talking about a rift within the Indian cricket team in Australia, saying that the Indian captain might have chosen a wrong word to describe the situation.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar's hopes of playing in the Melbourne match increased after the pacer went through the nets session without any discomfort in Melbourne, on Tuesday.
The Indian batting legend reckons the pressure is now on Australia.
Ajinkya Rahane is scouring the missing runs. By batting at the nets in shorts spans, against a variety of bowlers, and by doing everything else that is in his control, the seasoned Rahane is bracing up for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand, knowing well it could decide his future in the Indian team.
KL Rahul has been ruled out of the Border-Gavaskar series after spraining his left wrist while batting in the nets.
The ICC's rating is presumably due to the uneven bounce that became more prevalent later in the recently-concluded second Test between Australia and India.
"The start was crucial today, and once we saw the first hour, the match was won," said Ricky Ponting.
The iconic Audi 100 won by Ravi Shastri at the 1985 World Championship of Cricket in Australia was restored back to its original glory and handed back to the former India captain and coach by Gautam Hari Singhania, chairman and managing director of Raymond, in Mumbai on Friday.
Despite Cricket Australia's repeated warnings, racism has reared its ugly head at the ongoing first Test in Melbourne, with Indian supporters complaining of "offensive and ugly" chants being hurled at them by local fans.
Australia need to play a spinner in this week's fourth Ashes Test and should consider utilising all rounder Shane Watson's ability with the ball to bolster the pace attack, according to former spin-bowling great Shane Warne.
India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was ecstatic after running Steve Smith out with a direct hit in the ongoing third Test against Australia, calling it his "best ever" fielding effort which he can watch any number of times.
Out of India's total tally of 842 runs in five matches, the duo has rattled up 471 runs -- which accounts to 55 percent of the runs -- at a strike rate of 160.
India's cricket fraternity, led by Sachin Tendulkar, on Sunday hailed the Indian team's comprehensive victory over Australia in the third Test in Melbourne, terming it an incredible effort and one to be cherished for a long time.
Ponting received his commemorative cap from compatriot ICC Cricket Hall of Famer Glenn McGrath during the tea break
Sachin Tendulkar feels that the partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja might have taken the game away
Under-fire England head coach Chris Silverwood has tested positive for COVID-19 while quarantining in Melbourne with his family but he is expected to join the team ahead of the fifth Ashes Test in Hobart.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the 3rd Ashes Test played between Australia and England at the MCG on Tuesday.
Paine admitted that there will be an element of uncertainty associated with the Brisbane Test if India, a powerful cricket board, wants to press the pressure button.
A lot of grey areas are yet to be addressed, but a young Indian team, with an admirable collective temperament, will start as favourites in the series-deciding fifth T20 International against South Africa, in Bengaluru, on Sunday.
Ashwin picked Smith's wicket in the first session of the Boxing Day Test on Saturday for a duck.
The 50-year-old former Australia batsman opined that India have a potent bowling attack and if their batsmen cope with the bounce well, then the tourists could stage a comeback in the series.
With the Sydney Cricket Ground reliably Australia's most spin-friendly wicket, the hosts may find it tough going to manufacture a face-saving victory and square the series.
Rahane repeated his answers in a loop which was all about 'playing to your strengths and backing each other'.
Arshdeep has courage but needs experience
Unbeaten India take on England in the first of Thursday's semi-finals at the SCG and would progress to Sunday's final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) if a minimum of 10 overs a side were not possible because of the weather.
Australia opening batsman Aaron Finch has declared himself fit for the Boxing Day Test against India in Melbourne and said his injured finger would need to be cut off to prevent him from playing in front of his home state's fans.
England resumed their first innings on 491 for nine but Cook was unable to add to his overnight total, with Pat Cummins dismissing tail-ender James Anderson for a duck with the first ball of the morning.
The guidelines stated that systemic oral steroids are not indicated in mild cases and if the symptoms (persistent fever, worsening cough etc.) persist beyond seven days, the treating doctor should be consulted for treatment with low-dose oral steroids.
The Indian and Australian teams will continue to train in Melbourne for few more days
Sydney and Canberra are set to host the white-ball leg of India's tour of Australia after the New South Wales government allowed the visiting team to train during its mandatory quarantine upon arrival.
India fast bowler Umesh Yadav hobbled off the field after suffering an injury during the third day of the second Test against Australia, in Melbourne, on Monday.
