Big test for India, Eng; minnows likely to shake applecart
'When you show love towards the younger guys as a coach or a senior player, you know that they are going to give it back.'
Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) have acquired the services of Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) pacer Shardul Thakur for the 10th edition of the Indian Premier League.
'As a South African team, we know we're going to have that chip on our back, or that narrative that we have to get over'
Steve Smith has branded India favourites to win the T20 World Cup after Virat Kohli's side outclassed Australia in a warm-up match on Wednesday.
Indian cricket team will not just be looking to win a third ODI global title but also look at saving the '50-over format' which has been battling identity crisis for at least five years now.
Former Australian skipper Aaron Finch said that Alex Carey and Rishabh Pant, two left-handed wicketkeeper-batters will be extremely important for their respective sides during the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India.
Australia captain Steve Smith struck a cultured unbeaten century on Thursday to steer Australia to 299 for four wickets on the opening day of the third Test against India in Ranchi, signalling he has put the review controversy at Bengaluru behind him.
Singapore-born Tim David is an X-factor in Australia's Twenty20 World Cup squad and pace spearhead Pat Cummins said he is looking forward to the all-rounder's debut in Australian colours during the three-match series in India.
DC has talented India bowlers like Mandeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and Chetan Sakariya
Having dismissed Australia for a paltry 145 in their first innings, Pakistan stretched their lead to a daunting 281 by stumps on day two with Zaman's 66 and an unbeaten 54 by Ali taking them to 144-2.
Australia limited-overs captain Aaron Finch hopes his team can bring some joy to cricket fans in Sri Lanka amid the island nation's worst financial crisis in over seven decades.
Australia coach Justin Langer hinted on Wednesday that Joe Burns will continue as opening partner for David Warner in the Test series against India despite growing calls for Will Pucovski to replace him at the top of the order.
Aus coach Darren Lehmann refused to blame selection errors and concedes being outplayed by England
Factbox on the four-Test series between India and Australia, which starts at Pune on Thursday:
Australia dropped batsman George Bailey from the squad for their three-Test tour of South Africa on Monday and brought uncapped Alex Doolan and Shaun Marsh into the 15-man party. Bailey made his debut in the first Test of the recently-concluded Ashes series, but scored only 183 runs at an average of 26 as an unchanged Australia romped to a 5-0 sweep of England.
Martin Guptill smashed a quickfire half-century as New Zealand cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Australia at Wellington Stadium on Sunday in the fifth Twenty20 international and secure a 3-2 series win.
Ponting said that the experienced players will have to step up for the team in the crucial match against Mumbai Indians.
Ben Stokes' dismissal soured Australia's 64-run over England in the second ODI at Lord's on Saturday.
Sean Abbott and Beau Webster, seasoned domestic cricketers, remain on the fringes of Australia's Test squad
Batsman Shaun Marsh struck a fighting half-century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday to drive Australia to a commanding 326-run lead over India at the close of day four.
Australian cricketers, including big buys Glenn Maxwell and Jhye Richardson, are going to be part of the action.
With pacer Mohammed Shami in menacing form, India holds the edge in the bowling department against Australia, reckons batting great Gundappa Viswanath, who wants skipper Rohit Sharma to convert his aggressive starts to a big hundred in the World Cup final.
Khaleel Ahmed, who had already been smashed for four earlier in the over, unleashed a slower ball which was completely mistimed by Markram and the ball fell into Kuldeep Yadav's waiting arms at the mid-wicket boundary.
How the IPL teams have shaped up after the auction.
Australia captain Steve Smith brushed off concerns about his fitness on the eve of the fifth and final Ashes Test against England on Wednesday before Mitchell Starc's return to spearhead the pace attack was confirmed as the only change to his team.
The uncapped pair are the newcomers in captain Steven Smith's 15-man squad, which includes 10 players with less than 10 Tests, as Australia look to rebuild following a string of retirements after the Ashes defeat in England.
South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada will have his appeal against a two-match suspension on Monday as he seeks to play in the rest of the Test series against Australia.
Earlier, the West Indies chose to bat first after winning the toss and rode on opener Lewis's effort which included nine sixes and four boundaries to post a challenging total although the hosts were poised for an even bigger score at one point.
Images from Day 5 of the 4th Ashes Test played at the MCG on Saturday
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.
India's KL Rahul dropped a place to sixth but Virat Kohli retained his eighth place in the latest ICC men's T20 International rankings issued on Wednesday.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player of IPL 2023.
Heinrich Klaasen is the most expensive retained player in IPL history.
'I think there's a lot of other people that had England and India in the final right from the start, so I think Australia will be proud of their efforts as well.'
South Africa's Temba Bavuma was left stranded on 95 not out as they tightened their grip over scandal-hit Australia after reducing the hapless visitors to 110 for six at the close on the second day of the fourth and final Test on Saturday.
IMAGES from the T20 World Cup match played between Australia and Ireland in Brisbane on Monday.
Travis Head smashed a brilliant 137 as Australia cruised to their sixth World title after outclassing India by six wickets in the final on Sunday.
The tournament-proper of the World T20 gets underway on Tuesday, March 15, with hosts India taking on New Zealand in Nagpur. Ahead of the tournament, here are five players who may not be counted among the big names just yet, but could prove match-winners on their day.
