Australia reduced South Africa to 149 for six at the close of play on the fourth day of the rain-disrupted third Test on Saturday after declaring on 475/4 in pursuit of a victory that would give them a 3-0 series sweep.
West Indies captain Jason Holder's week went from bad to worse on Sunday when he was fined 60 percent of his match fee for a slow over rate during the first Test loss to Australia and could face a ban if the tourists repeat the offence.
His loss for even part of the series would be a huge blow to a team already missing so much batting experience because of the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal.
'It's been nice to score some runs in that time and we're always looking for perfection, and for me (Thursday) was as close to perfection as I will get.'
Here are some of the memorable celebratory moments...
'I mean, they can say (he is) not in the scheme of things, he's only for Test cricket or one day cricket but we are playing in Australia. That guy has done well last IPL, so Shami is the must in my team.'
'I think the Indigenous community in AFL and rugby are so big and hopefully one day Aboriginals in cricket can be just as big.'
Shailaja Pujari is believed to have returned a positive test following random out-of-competition testing by WADA officials.
South Africa dug deep to deny Australia a 3-0 series sweep with a battling draw in the rain-disrupted third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday, finally finding some fight on the final day of a miserable tour.
Former England cricketer Reg Simpson, who is the oldest surviving player to have played in a Test match for the country, has reportedly passed away at the age of 93.
Jennifer Brady spent two weeks in hard quarantine gathering mental strength for her tilt at a maiden Grand Slam title and will hope there is plenty in reserve when she takes on Naomi Osaka in Saturday's Australian Open final.
His right knee is currently believed to be in a brace. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has stated that it will take some time to make a proper assessment of the injury and give more information. Shaheen will fly back home via Mumbai with the rest of the side on Monday.
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.
Ajinkya Rahane made it very clear that the undisputed leader of this side is Virat Kohli and he is happy filling in when required.
Former Australian captain Mark Taylor has pitched in to the debate on how to revive spectator interest in Test cricket, calling for the game's longest format to be shortened by a day to encourage more attacking intent.
Former West Indies captain Chris Gayle is hopeful he can return to Test cricket next year but said he was simply not fit enough to take part in the ongoing series against Australia.
With Australia taking a 2-0 lead in the four-match Test series against India, the scales are titled highly in favour of the hosts. History also shows that the Melbourne Cricket Ground has been a happy hunting ground for the hosts. With the Boxing Day Test around the corner, here is a quick look at how the teams stand.
Since being dropped by his Indian Premier League side Sunrisers Hyderabad in September, 35-year-old Warner rebounded to take Player of the Tournament honours during Australia's T20 World Cup triumph. He now sits third on the runs list in the ongoing Ashes series, with 240 at an average of 60.
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen feels ICC needs to lure cricketers to longer version of the game by creating Test wages that trump what T20 leagues such as IPL and BBL offer to the players.
'We have the best spinner and three outstanding pace bowlers, against the outstanding Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli. So it takes some mental and physical energy out'
Mohammed Siraj was in Australia for his first Test tour when his father Mohammed Ghaus passed away and had to tackle the emotional phase to concentrate on cricket on that trip.
Czech-born Navratilova, who became a US citizen in 1981, was also diagnosed and beat breast cancer back in 2010.
Jordan striker Ahmad Hayel has been ruled out of Friday's Asian Cup match against Palestine in Melbourne after a "cancelled" doping test, the team said on Wednesday.
Maxwell nderwent a surgery on Sunday after fracturing his left fibula at a friend's 50th birthday celebration.
Much of Warne's life resonates for Australians, most of whom would identify with his suburban upbringing and his determination to live life to the fullest.
Test cricket returned to Pakistan for the first time in ten years with the Sri Lankan team playing two matches in Rawalpindi and Karachi, with the hosts winning the second match to clinch the series 1-0 after the rain-curtailed first game ended in a draw.
Spain's Paula Badosa, the women's world number 67, was the only player to contract the coronavirus. She was released from hotel quarantine on Wednesday.
Australian allrounder Shane Watson is unlikely to play the second Test against India next week as he returned home to continue rehab on his hamstring injury.
'India's strength is batting and it is under attack right now. It is time to stand up and be counted.'
Warner is enduring a lean patch in the longest format with his last four scores, reading 21 and 28 (second Test in Adelaide) and 5 and 48 (first Test in Perth).
'We are expecting him (Dhoni) to be 100 percent in the next few days.' 'It's a big moment for me personally'
Hair, who no-balled Muralitharan for throwing in the 1995-96 Melbourne Test, will officiate in Lanka's match against England in Sydney.
Novak Djokovic claimed a record-breaking 23rd men's singles Grand Slam title when he beat Norway's Casper Ruud 7-6(1) 6-3 7-5 in the French Open final.
Indian vice-captain Rahul Dravid refused to believe that the heat would be on India alone in the crucial Melbourne Test.
Bopanna was forced into searching for a new partner after Joao Sousa was unable to travel to Australia on time after testing COVID-19 positive.
The charter plane carrying the body of Shane Warne landed in his home city of Melbourne on Thursday evening after an eight-hour flight from Thailand, where the Australian cricketing great died last week at the age of 52.
Cricket Australia will be understanding of players who feel uncomfortable about playing in the wake of the death of Phillip Hughes when the rescheduled India Test series starts next week, chief executive James Sutherland said on Tuesday.
For the much-awaited 10th 'Pink Test', the Australian and English cricket teams on Tuesday donned pink caps at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) alongside veteran cricketer and McGrath Foundation founder, Glenn McGrath.
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