South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel and all-rounder JP Duminy will undergo late fitness tests ahead of Saturday's triangular series final against Australia in Harare.
At the moment, Pakistan's World Cup campaign is stuck against a huge boulder primarily because of their bowlers' inability to fire as a unit, the latest setback being a 62-run defeat against Australia in Bengaluru.
This happened following India's practice session that saw both India's senior batters hit the nets at the Optus Stadium.
'We knew it won't be easy to hit how much you may connect. Plan was to bowl smartly and when a batter is set, force him to hit on the bigger sides than small sides.'
South African pacer Vernon Philander feels losing pacer Morne Morkel to injury has compounded matters for his team in the opening Test against India.
'Jassi is a guy that immediately put his hand up and he wanted that leadership role.'
South African fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel ripped through the Sri Lanka batting lineup to seal a 153-run win in the first Test on Sunday as Hashim Amla started his captaincy in fine style.
India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Friday acknowledged that Sanju Samson has been going through a lean phase without doubting the quality of the struggling batter, and reiterated the team management's support for him.
The second and final Test starts in Guwahati from Saturday with India trailing 0-1 after the defeat on a challenging Eden Gardens pitch in Kolkata.
Seamer Morne Morkel claimed his 300th career wicket as South Africa edged ahead in the third Test on Friday when they reduced Australia to 245 for nine at the close on the second day, still 66 runs behind their hosts' first innings score at Newlands.
The decision to leave out paceman Morne Morkel in the IPL Qualifier II raised a lot of eyebrows but Delhi Daredevils head coach Eric Simmons defended the strategy, saying it was aimed at finding the 'right balance' in the side.
The 'Impact Player' in IPL might have restricted Chennai Super Kings' Shivam Dube's role but 'India's Shivam Dube' aspires to be a full-fledged all-rounder backed by head coach Gautam Gambhir and helped by bowling coach Morne Morkel.
Indian Test skipper Shubman Gill spoke on the team dinner hosted by head coach Gautam Gambhir on Thursday
India's pace great Zaheer Khan is reportedly set to part ways with Lucknow Super Giants after just one season as their mentor.
'Yeah, 100 per cent. That's a good question, and I think that's something we'll obviously reflect on after the tour, the things we could have done better.'
'Pretty amazing. The whole tournament, we remained unbeaten, it feels pretty amazing to be in this position.'
Images from Day 3 of the first Test between South Africa and Australia in Durban on Saturday.
South Africa took control of the first Test against West Indies on Saturday after pacemen Dale Steyn, who reached 200 Test wickets, and Morne Morkel had skittled the hosts for 102 on the third day. South Africa, with a first innings lead of 250, declined to enforce the follow-on and extended their lead by reaching 155 for two at the close at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad.
Earlier, warm-up routines had players darting through shuttle runs and high knees before bats were unsheathed.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the 3rd Test played between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town on Sunday
Siraj took a six wicket haul in the first innings and got rid of Zak Crawley in the final hour on day five.
Team India wasted no time in getting their preparations underway as they kicked off their first training session at Lord's a few hours after their arrival in London on Saturday.
The Oval will host the fifth and final Test between India and England from Thursday, and the Indian team has hit the ground running two days after staging a remarkable comeback to draw the fourth match in Manchester.
South Africa recalled hard-hitting all-rounder Albie Morkel on Monday in their squad for the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh starting next month.
With the much-anticipated Group A clash against arch-rivals Pakistan looming, India is sparing no effort in their training sessions, honing skills and strategising tactics.
Harshit Rana has been included in the India Test squad as a cover and travelled with the rest of the team via train to reach Leeds
England pace spearhead Mark Wood credited bowling coach Morne Morkel for keeping things simple at training after returning sensational figures of 5 for 14 on his IPL debut for Lucknow Super Giants in their massive 50-run victory over Delhi Capitals, in Lucknow, on Saturday.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the fourth Test between South Africa and Australia in Johannesburg on Monday
The usually mobbed Indian cricket team likes training in a relaxed atmosphere and that was evident in their body language as the players went about their business in their only practice session at the Kent County Cricket Ground before the fourth Test in Manchester.
Countering Bumrah before spinners come into play will be key for SA: Graeme Smith
India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Friday returned to the country after mother Seema Gambhir had to be hospitalized due to health emergency.
Abhishek Sharma's brutal yet beautiful stroke-play was the highlight of India's optional net session on Tuesday
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said training with the two-coloured balls helps in eliminating white ball tendencies from the red ball game.
Defending champions India had a full-fledged practice session at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Friday as they put the finishing touches to their Asia Cup preparations.
They'll wait to make a call with him up until the morning of the Test match, said India's bowling coach Morne Morkel.
India were struggling at 128 for 5 in their second innings, still trailing Australia by 29 runs at stumps on day two of the day-night Test.
Here's a glimpse of India's new faces and veterans sweating it out...
Injured South Africa pacer Dale Steyn bowled for a short while in the nets, raising hopes of him being included in the playing XI in the third Test against India in Nagpur, but his fast bowling partner Morne Morkel said the team is keeping its fingers crossed.
The Indian players went through a gruelling training session ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh, starting next week.
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