The T20 World Cup 2024 promises to be a tournament dominated by bowlers, particularly spinners.
Shubman Gill was at his silken best during Indian team's intra-squad training game here at the Tuks Oval on Thursday even though there wasn't an opportunity to get a glimpse of that enchanting sight.
Former South Africa skipper Dean Elgar has claimed that star India batter Virat Kohli "spat at him" during a Test match and apologised two years later after being confronted by his Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate AB de Villiers.
All-rounder Rachin Ravindra continued to bolster his reputation with three for 33 as New Zealand reduced a weakened but battling South Africa side to 220 for six on the first day of the second Test at Seddon Park on Tuesday.
Ahead of India's tour of South Africa, 'Men in Blue' head coach Rahul Dravid asked his side to give a match-winning contribution in the upcoming series.
South Africa ruined Ricky Ponting's farewell with an emphatic 309-run victory over Australia in the third Test on Monday to clinch the three-match series 1-0 and cement their position at the top of the ICC Test rankings.
South African fast bowler Makhaya Ntini has lashed out at his team over the alleged preference of 'white' bowlers in the Test squad as the Proteas squad consider a replacement for injured JP Duminy.
'The way he was batting was great to watch because the pitch was not that easy for batting.'
Shamsi's wrist spin accounted for Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran and David Willey, who was bowled first ball to set up a hat-trick chance that Chris Jordan denied him.
The former skipper called Rohit an "old-school" long-format batter. He added that there will be np competition if Rohit extend his career.
South Africa is one of the most challenging places in the world for batters and the side which can adapt to the seamer friendly conditions quickest has the best chance of success in the first Test against India, according to home captain Temba Bavuma.
'We haven't always got that right in the past, to play our best cricket at the World Cup, because we put so much pressure on ourselves. We want to just focus on enjoying our cricket'
Williamson's 109 from 132 deliveries on another sun-kissed day at Mount Maunganui made him only the fifth New Zealander to score a hundred in each innings of a Test.
Jonny Bairstow fell five runs short of a maiden Test century on Saturday before South Africa took their lead in the match to 139 at the end of day three of the third and final Test against England at Lord's.
England captain Alastair Cook is still hurting after the Test series defeat by Pakistan but believes his side are equipped to strike back against the world's number one team in South Africa. As he prepared to fly out with his team to South Africa on Thursday, Cook, who has never won a Test series against the Proteas, described just how important a victory will be."It would mean a huge amount to beat the world number one nation in their backyard," the 30-year-old, leading the current fifth-ranked Test nation, told a news conference. "That's the challenge we've got ahead of us.
BCCI tweets "All buckled up South Africa bound".
Graeme Smith returns to England to play what is his 100th Test match -- at The Oval. He still captains the South African side and besides his personal milestone also has a major agenda this time around. A win over England in the ongoing Test series will make South Africa the No.1 Test side in the world.
Kohli is a massive player, will play major role in Test series: Kallis
Images from the second semifinal between Australia and South Africa in the ongoing ICC Men's ODI World Cup at the Eden Gardens on Thursday.
Mohammed Siraj's sensational six-wicket spell put India in control despite a superb fightback from South Africa with the ball on Day 1 of the second and final Test.
Images from the IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, on Thursday.
Kane Williamson hit an unbeaten century as New Zealand beat South Africa by seven wickets on the fourth day of the second Test
They have looked more comfortable setting targets than chasing one though, and they will expect more penetration from their bowlers against a resurgent Australia.
AB de Villiers revealed that his young son accidentally kicked him in the eye, leading to a decline in vision.
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings in Kolkata on Friday.
Shahbaz Nadeem has announced his retirement from international cricket to try his luck in franchise-based leagues
South Africa cricket coach Gary Kirsten, who guided India to the ODI World Cup triumph and the number one Test ranking while in charge of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men, feels the Proteas can be the most dominant team internationally.
After electing to bat first, South Africa were bowled out for 98 in the 17th over, with spin trio Lakshan Sandakan, Dhananjaya de Silva and Akila Dananjaya combining to take seven wickets.
South Africa will look to fix their chasing troubles before the semifinals while Afghanistan will back themselves to beat another top team
IMAGES from the first ODI between South Africa and India played at The Wanderers, in Johannesburg, on Sunday.
The leg-spinner is first South African to claim seven wickets in an ODI and became the fastest Proteas bowler to reach 100 ODI wickets in 58 matches -- the fourth quickest overall.
South Africa's power-packed batting unit suffered a light-out against Australia, but they found enough support from the packed Eden Gardens crowd during the second semifinal of the World Cup in Kolkata on Thursday.
Pace bowlers Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn claimed four wickets apiece to help dismiss England for 203 on the first day of the second Test at Headingley on Friday. Morkel took four for 52 and Steyn four for 76 before the home team hit back in the final session to reduce the Proteas to 101 for three at the close.
Let's take a look at the standout performers in the bowling department:
The South Africa series in that context is the last big international T20 series that India play followed by one against Afghanistan in mid-January.
Commanding wins in their two opening games have elevated South Africa as favourites in the World Cup but pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada insisted there is still a long way to go and the team is focused on taking one match at a time.
Musheer Khan, Uday Saharan, Sachin Dhas, Saumy Pandey named in U19 World Cup Team of the Tournament
Rassie van der Dussen conceded that South Africa needs to improve chasing runs after Afghanistan's bowlers made things difficult for them in the middle overs in their World Cup match in Ahmedabad on Friday.