Pakistan exploited heavy cloud cover and humidity to the full on Tuesday to seize the advantage over Australia in an old-fashioned English Test match in which ball dominated the bat throughout.
Royal Challengers head coach Simon Katich was all praise for the South African after he single-handedly won the IPL game against Rajasthan Royals for them, in Dubai on Saturday.
Ricky Ponting's woes continued as Australia were dismissed for just 214 on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand at the Gabba (Brisbane), on Thursday.
Images from Day 4 in the first Test between India and Australia in Mohali.
Images from the Champions League T20 match between Mumbai Indians and Perth Scorchers in Delhi, on Wednesday.
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has signed up with English county side Lancashire for the team's upcoming domestic Twenty20 season.
Australian Test opener Phil Hughes believes that fellow New South Wales cricketer David Warner will make the grade in the longer format of the game sooner than later.
Australia opening batsman Matthew Hayden has been ruled out of Thursday's first Test against West Indies at Sabina Park with an Achilles tendon injury, a team spokesman said. Simon Katich, returning to Tests after nearly a three-year absence, will now open along with Phil Jaques.
Recalled opener Phil Hughes has promised Australia the kind of brisk starts which Virender Sehwag so frequently provides for India. Replacing the injured Simon Katich for the third Ashes Test starting on Thursday, Hughes insisted he would not be curbing his attacking instincts against the dangerous English bowlers.
Four new players were awarded contracts and test opener Chris Rogers has been dropped from Cricket Australia's list of contracted players for next season. David Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Doug Bollinger and Beau Casson were included on the 25-man list for the first time, while Simon Katich and Ashley Noffke were offered new contracts after failing to make the cut last season.
West Indies pace bowler Fidel Edwards removed both Australian openers cheaply in the opening session of the first test on Thursday but visiting skipper Ricky Ponting guided his team to 87 for two at lunch.
Simon Katich and Shane Watson have shared an opening stand of 99 -- Australia's best at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore, surpassing the 91 between Mark Taylor and Michael Slater in March 1998.
Brendon McCullum's dogged century could only delay the inevitable as Australia cruised to a convincing 10-wicket win in the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington on Tuesday.
Australia opening batsman Phil Jacques will return home from the Test tour of India due to a back problem. The left-handed batsman sat out the drawn first Test after Simon Katich was chosen to partner fellow opener Matthew Hayden. The pair were retained for the second Test, which began on Friday.
South Africa's domestic Twenty20 champions Diamond Eagles will have to play out of their skin if they desire to start their Champions League campaign on a winning note against a formidable New South Wales (NSW) in New Delhi on Friday.
New South Wales is Australia's most successful domestic team and one to watch out for in the upcoming T20 tournament. The 15-man squad includes as many as eight current international players, led by pace ace Brett Lee, who played a major role in Australia's ICC Champions Trophy triumph.
Perfect timing is an essential commodity in cricket and the emergence of batsman Phillip Hughes could not have come at a better time for the Australians.
Images from Day 1 in the first Test between India and Australia at Molahi.
Solid knocks from openers Shane Watson (89) and Simon Katich (99), who put on a stand of 132, and Mike Hussey (81 not out) gave the hosts early command of the match despite skipper Ricky Ponting being forced to retire hurt on 23 after being struck on the arm by Kemar Roach.
Australia battled hard against some accurate England bowling on Thursday to reach 142 for one at tea in their first innings on the second day of the first Ashes Test.
Katich opened the batting with Gilchrist after Australian selectors dropped Hayden from the one-day side.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting has demanded a review of security arrangements for the tour of New Zealand after his players were pelted with missiles.
The victory virtually guaranteed Australia a place in the series finals. They have 18 points, while Sri Lanka have nine and South Africa have eight.\n\n
Glenn McGrath returned to their side after being rested for the second match.\n
England spinner Robert Croft Croft claimed five wickets as Glamorgan bowled out Hampshire for 350 in the County first division.
Phil Jaques scored another century as New South Wales amassed 325 for 5 on the first day of the tour match against England.
"It gives him the chance to manage a range of minor injuries that he has endured," said chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns.
Australia opener Justin Langer scored 166 to leave Sri Lanka fighting to avoid a series whitewash at the close of the fourth day of the third Test.
RCB skipper Virat Kohli will join the squad on Thursday.
Maxwell is showing ominous form with the bat early in the IPL
The dawn of a new era had begun under Sourav Ganguly's aggressive leadership. With Ganguly and Coach John Wright at the helm India had transitioned into a force to be reckoned with.
Former Australia batsman Simon Katich said Australian batsmen did not apply themselves after getting starts in the just concluded Test series, that led to their downfall.
My batting position at the top-order will give right balance to the squad, says the skipper.
Kolkata Knight Riders would look to usher in a fresh era under new captain Dinesh Karthik with a victory when they open their Indian Premier League campaign against heavyweights Royal Challengers Bangalore, in Kolkata, on Sunday.
Australia's David Warner, on Friday, completed 1000 runs in 2014 en route his century in the second innings of the first cricket Test against India in Adelaide, becoming the first opener to achieve the feat since England skipper Alastair Cook in 2012.
'...and the only thing I expect from you guys is to make the most of the time that we spend on the field whether it is a practice session, game drills it is needless to mention'
RCB batsman AB de Villiers can still sense the momentum which his side gained in the 13th edition of the IPL in UAE.
Devdutt Padikkal is paired with Virat Kohli. There is no better mentor for a young developing player.
'Now it's about going out there and lift the trophy and achieve his the ultimate goal'
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