A look at the key players to watch out for in Thursday's match between India and New Zealand.
Pakistan have dropped senior batsman Misbah-ul-Haq from the squad to play New Zealand and recalled opener Imran Farhat after nearly three years out of the team.
Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson and all rounder Shane Watson may miss the first Test against New Zealand after suffering injuries during the South Africa tour.
A secret slogan summarising their goals for the series will be used to inspire and motivate the Indian cricketers as they strive for their first Test win on Australian soil since 1981.
Goalkeeper P R Sreejesh could feature in his first competitive event in eight months after being named in India's 20-member squad for a four-nation tournament in New Zealand. India will compete with Belgium, Japan and hosts New Zealand at Tauranga and Hamilton in the tournament, beginning January 17.
In order to raise the ever dwindling number of spectators in the stadium, the BCCI is all set to host its first-ever Day/Night cricket Test with pink ball when New Zealand tour India later this year. "We have decided that we will play one Day/Night Test match with pink ball against New Zealand later this year. Before that Duleep Trophy will act as a dress rehearsal for the Day/Night Test match," BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur told a select gathering of mediapersons at the BCCI's headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday. Thakur said that the main objective of the Duleep Trophy will be to check how the pink kookaburra behaves under the light in sub-continental conditions. "While we have not zeroed in on the venue, there are lots of factors that need to be taken into account. Things like dew factor, how the spinners bowl with the pink kookaburra on Indian pitches. These things we will get an idea during the Duleep Trophy," said Thakur.
Reader Neha Paranjape sent us these pictures from Christchurch, New Zealand.
A jumbo Pakistan squad, led by Babar Azam, arrived in New Zealand on Tuesday and is serving a mandatory 14-day quarantine period as per COVID-19 protocol.
Plan to take off-side out of Australians was hatched in July, reveals India bowling coach Bharat Arun.
The Sri Lankan off spinner will make a comeback to Test cricket in the series against New Zealand in January next year.
Rohit, who has made a comeback to the Test side, will now leave for Australia with India's T20 squad on Friday.
All-rounder Luke Woodcock and top-order batsman Jamie How were surprise inclusions in New Zealand's 15-man World Cup squad on Wednesday.
Misbah-ul-haq overcame the loss of late wickets to keep his cool and guide Pakistan to a two-wicket victory over New Zealand in their fourth one-day international match in Napier on Tuesday. Misbah, who has anchored Pakistan's batting throughout the tour of New Zealand, proved once again a thorn in the side of Daniel Vettori's team, scoring 93 not out as Pakistan finished on 264 for eight in 49 overs having chased down the host's 262 for seven.
Sachin Tendulkar has made an expected return to the Test team while VVS Laxman, despite his woeful run of form in the series against Australia, retains his place for the NZ series.
Tillakaratne Dilshan scored his 47th one-day half century to anchor a much-improved Sri Lanka to a morale-boosting eight-wicket victory on Thursday that kept their one-day series against New Zealand alive.
England on Tuesday rested IPL stars including Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow for the upcoming two-Test series against New Zealand while Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes were not considered for selection due to injuries.
South Africa play three ODIs against England, starting at the weekend, following on three Twenty20 Internationals.
Bruised and battered by India after being bundled out for a meagre 79 while chasing 270 in the series-deciding fifth and final ODI here, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson termed the performance of his batting department as "frustrating". Williamson said the Kiwi batsmen did not justify to lose eight wickets for just 16 runs. "That's what's so frustrating, because we failed as a batting unit. The spinners of the Indian side bowled very well but I don't think it is justified to lose 8 wickets for 16 runs. We need to look at some of our plans. There was turn in the pitch in some other games too but we were able to handle it better then," Williamson said after their massive 190-run defeat in the fifth and final ODI in Vizag.
Brett Lee is in danger of missing the World Cup after being sent home from New Zealand with a painful ankle injury.
India's Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane said criticism that the team does not play the short-ball well does not hold merit.
The former Team India spearhead will be in charge of Sri Lanka's two-Test and five-ODI series in New Zealand.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson would have liked to have had more Test cricket this season after series victories over West Indies and England in the four red-ball matches they were able to host.
Stuart Broad took seven wickets to rip through the New Zealand batting order and bowl England to an emphatic 170-run victory on the fourth day of the first Test at Lord's on Sunday.
India's ODI squad against Australia announced; squads for New Zealand tour declared
In India, 29 positive cases have been reported so far, including 16 Italian tourists. New Zealand Cricket said that the cricket board is in constant touch with the country's health, foreign affairs and sports ministry to get regular updates which will ensure health safety for its players.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) will meet with former skippers in a bid to improve communication within the national set-up in the wake of the controversy surrounding the handling of Ross Taylor's demotion from the captaincy.
Recuperating from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the Sri Lanka tour, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh said he is regaining full fitness and is looking forward to spearhead India's spin attack in New Zealand.
Nathan Astle produced a timely return to form with an unbeaten 90 to anchor New Zealand to 256 for five.
New Zealand batsmen showed clinical efficiency in a tricky chase to spoil Virat Kohli's milestone match with a comfortable six-wicket victory over India in the opening One-Day International, in Mumbai on Sunday.
New Zealand named uncapped wicketkeeper Reece Young in their 13-man squad for the home Test series against Pakistan. Gareth Hopkins makes way for Young after failing to impress on the Black Caps' recent tour of India.
New Zealand cricketers are bearing the burnt of their disastrous tour of India. They have been issued a warning by their Players' Association -- perform or get ready for a smaller pay package.
Senior New Zealand opener Martin Guptill was ruled out of the three-match series after failing to recover from a back injury.
After Zimbabwe, New Zealand has offered to tour Pakistan for a one-off exhibition match to raise funds for the victims of the floods that has devastated the strife-torn country, a Pakistan Cricket Board official said on Sunday.
He will be flying in to Chennai along with video analyst Zach Hitchcock.
India were 227 for eight in their second innings at stumps on the third day of the second cricket Test against New Zealand at the Edens Garden on Kolkata on Sunday. India, thus, took an overall lead of 339 runs over New Zealand with two wickets in hand. Rohit Sharma made 82 while Wriddhiman Saha was unbeaten on 39 along side Bhuvneshwar Kumar (8 not out).
New Zealand women's cricket team dismissed Mumbai President's XI
New Zealand Cricket appear to be pushing ahead with plans to trial day-night first class matches as they build towards hosting their inaugural pink ball home test against England in 2018.
